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Post by Digi on Aug 16, 2020 22:39:58 GMT
I just finished up Thin Time a couple of minutes ago. Really, really enjoyed it...right up until the cameo, which really did not sound even remotely like Matt Smith, and felt really forced in terms of the story. There was no reason why the final minutes of the story couldn't have featured the Doctor realizing via these strangers that he needs his friends after all, and then ending on the win. Really dragged my enjoyment of the entire story down, I hope he doesn't show up in Madquake. Standard disclaimer: I am glad that Big Finish has given a guy like Jake Dudman a shot, because I do actually think that he's a pretty talented actor -- I just wish they would stop with having him impersonating people they haven't been able to hire yet, and give him some real roles with some meat on them. Create an original character for him to play regularly -- have him be a kind companion to the Doctor, or an amoral one with River, or a sadistic one with the Master. Give us a new recruit in UNIT, who an established character falls for but he's unavailable because he's gay/straight (depending on the gender of that other character) and they gradually form a rock-solid friendship. Have him be a recurring comic relief for Benny, who inexplicably always seems to be there no matter where or when she travels. Have him be an agent of a new, unseen villain in Collinsport for a while before that villain finally arrives (like how Francis Wolcott was the villain of season 2 of Deadwood as Hearst's operative, before Hearst himself showed up in season 3).
There are so many more ways that they could give him way more work, with none of baggage that comes with impersonations.
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Post by Audio Watchdog on Aug 16, 2020 23:23:11 GMT
I just finished up Thin Time a couple of minutes ago. Really, really enjoyed it...right up until the cameo, which really did not sound even remotely like Matt Smith, and felt really forced in terms of the story. There was no reason why the final minutes of the story couldn't have featured the Doctor realizing via these strangers that he needs his friends after all, and then ending on the win. Really dragged my enjoyment of the entire story down, I hope he doesn't show up in Madquake. Standard disclaimer: I am glad that Big Finish has given a guy like Jake Dudman a shot, because I do actually think that he's a pretty talented actor -- I just wish they would stop with having him impersonating people they haven't been able to hire yet, and give him some real roles with some meat on them. Create an original character for him to play regularly -- have him be a kind companion to the Doctor, or an amoral one with River, or a sadistic one with the Master. Give us a new recruit in UNIT, who an established character falls for but he's unavailable because he's gay/straight (depending on the gender of that other character) and they gradually form a rock-solid friendship. Have him be a recurring comic relief for Benny, who inexplicably always seems to be there no matter where or when she travels. Have him be an agent of a new, unseen villain in Collinsport for a while before that villain finally arrives (like how Francis Wolcott was the villain of season 2 of Deadwood as Hearst's operative, before Hearst himself showed up in season 3).
There are so many more ways that they could give him way more work, with none of baggage that comes with impersonations. See in terms of where the 5th Doctor is and where the other character is at, it makes complete sense on a story level. The problem, to me at least, remains in performance and that is where it falters. Davison sells it beautifully, his scene partner much less so.
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Post by shallacatop on Aug 17, 2020 7:50:10 GMT
I just finished up Thin Time a couple of minutes ago. Really, really enjoyed it...right up until the cameo, which really did not sound even remotely like Matt Smith, and felt really forced in terms of the story. There was no reason why the final minutes of the story couldn't have featured the Doctor realizing via these strangers that he needs his friends after all, and then ending on the win. Really dragged my enjoyment of the entire story down, I hope he doesn't show up in Madquake. Standard disclaimer: I am glad that Big Finish has given a guy like Jake Dudman a shot, because I do actually think that he's a pretty talented actor -- I just wish they would stop with having him impersonating people they haven't been able to hire yet, and give him some real roles with some meat on them. Create an original character for him to play regularly -- have him be a kind companion to the Doctor, or an amoral one with River, or a sadistic one with the Master. Give us a new recruit in UNIT, who an established character falls for but he's unavailable because he's gay/straight (depending on the gender of that other character) and they gradually form a rock-solid friendship. Have him be a recurring comic relief for Benny, who inexplicably always seems to be there no matter where or when she travels. Have him be an agent of a new, unseen villain in Collinsport for a while before that villain finally arrives (like how Francis Wolcott was the villain of season 2 of Deadwood as Hearst's operative, before Hearst himself showed up in season 3).
There are so many more ways that they could give him way more work, with none of baggage that comes with impersonations. See in terms of where the 5th Doctor is and where the other character is at, it makes complete sense on a story level. The problem, to me at least, remains in performance and that is where it falters. Davison sells it beautifully, his scene partner much less so. I agree there. Given that Time Apart made no indication of the events of Conversion, I think it needed something more substantial to push the Doctor. Mrs Polly wouldn't have been able to carry that, as good of a character she was. It took me a few lines to realise it was Jake Dudman portraying the Eleventh Doctor. The absence of any repurposed Eleventh Doctor lines really highlighted the weakness in the performance. I've noticed that stories with impersonators can sometimes be written where they give a few familiar lines or catchphrases that tries to help sell your opinion of the performance.
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Post by Digi on Aug 17, 2020 21:27:41 GMT
Just did Madquake. Started out promising, but didn't hold my attention nearly as much as Thin Time, unfortunately.
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Post by johnhurtdoctor on Aug 17, 2020 22:21:44 GMT
See in terms of where the 5th Doctor is and where the other character is at, it makes complete sense on a story level. The problem, to me at least, remains in performance and that is where it falters. Davison sells it beautifully, his scene partner much less so. I agree there. Given that Time Apart made no indication of the events of Conversion, I think it needed something more substantial to push the Doctor. Mrs Polly wouldn't have been able to carry that, as good of a character she was. It took me a few lines to realise it was Jake Dudman portraying the Eleventh Doctor. The absence of any repurposed Eleventh Doctor lines really highlighted the weakness in the performance. I've noticed that stories with impersonators can sometimes be written where they give a few familiar lines or catchphrases that tries to help sell your opinion of the performance. So true. He is not an actor.
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Post by relativetime on Aug 17, 2020 23:41:09 GMT
Finally listened to Thin Time. I was really sold on this story all throughout and it would have been an easy recommendation and yet another great Fifth Doctor story... except... I really, REALLY take no pleasure in saying this because I am actually supportive of impersonations and recasts... but Jake Dudman’s part did take me out of the story a bit. Don’t get me wrong, he does a phenomenal impression, but it’s not quite yet a performance the way Jon Culshaw’s Brigadier is or Tim Treloar’s Third Doctor. And next to Peter Davison, who’s just SELLING his part with every syllable... yeah, that’s not ever going to be a favorable comparison, but it really sticks out here.
And just from a purely personal perspective, it kind of feels wrong to me to have someone other than Matt Smith in the role when we don’t yet know for sure whether he’s completely off the table or not and especially when one of the other modern Doctors would have worked just as well thematically. Why not Ten during the period where he was running away from his destiny before The End of Time, swearing off companions too? I’m not sure I understand why this HAD to be the Eleventh Doctor basically. It’s not a bad choice purely from a storytelling perspective, but the way it was delivered... Ultimately, I just personally don’t think the ending fully justified the Eleventh Doctor’s inclusion and a very simple rewrite could have delivered something just as impactful and meaningful and frankly just as appealing to New Who fans.
It just sort of irked me. I suppose this was a good moment to test the waters with how we’d feel about recast/stand-in performances of living actors mixing with the originals. I’m not sure how I feel about this. It’s not like the Third Doctor or Sarah Jane where recasts or stand-ins are the only way we’ll continue to experience new adventures with these characters. I still feel kind of iffy about having non-narrated, full-cast stories with characters whose original actors still have the chance to join BF eventually. Maybe if we knew Matt Smith had turned down returning to the role on audio definitively... but then again Tom Baker and Chris Eccleston were on that boat for a time and look how that turned out - and besides The Kingmaker, neither appeared in any significant way in full-cast adventures to the best of my knowledge.
Anyways, those are just a couple of gripes I had. Again, the vast majority of this story is absolutely great. I just had to add my two cents to the discussion about that ending.
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Post by xlozdob on Aug 18, 2020 0:52:19 GMT
I agree there. Given that Time Apart made no indication of the events of Conversion, I think it needed something more substantial to push the Doctor. Mrs Polly wouldn't have been able to carry that, as good of a character she was. It took me a few lines to realise it was Jake Dudman portraying the Eleventh Doctor. The absence of any repurposed Eleventh Doctor lines really highlighted the weakness in the performance. I've noticed that stories with impersonators can sometimes be written where they give a few familiar lines or catchphrases that tries to help sell your opinion of the performance. So true. He is not an actor. Well, several prominent roles in high-profile shows seem to suggest the opposite, apart from his extensive audio work. It's more (or at least bigger) than many of BF's regulars have under their belts (not that that makes them any lesser actors, just pointing it out for the sake of my argument). You may not like his acting, or his impression might not have been the best, especially opposite another actor who's not doing an impression, but at the end of the day, he definitely is an actor, and is working under a director who okayed his performance.
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Post by aussiedoctorwhofan on Aug 18, 2020 1:03:33 GMT
Maybe if we knew Matt Smith had turned down returning to the role on audio definitively...
He has 100% been approached/offered.
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Post by relativetime on Aug 18, 2020 9:59:16 GMT
Maybe if we knew Matt Smith had turned down returning to the role on audio definitively...
He has 100% been approached/offered.
As far as I’m aware, though, he hasn’t been vocally against the idea of returning. This isn’t an Eccleston or Tom situation where we had definite statements and reasons to believe both actors wouldn’t join Big Finish (until they did). I can think of a couple obvious reasons why Matt wouldn’t return, all that being said, but it still feels wrong to me that BF has held off so long on doing something similar with the other modern Doctors until they joined. Tom is the only exception I can think of and even then it wasn’t done to quite this extent.
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Post by Ian McArdell on Aug 19, 2020 10:06:58 GMT
My take on these two are up at CultBox - loved 'Thin Time' and that surprise coda.
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Post by nitronine on Aug 19, 2020 11:00:00 GMT
Loved these both. I'll be honest and say that I didn't get what I was hoping for with Madquake but what I got was much better. Was hoping for a fun little Slitheen story and actually got half that, half character-focused drama, which was much better imo.
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Post by ollychops on Aug 23, 2020 19:44:32 GMT
Enjoyed Thin Time quite a bit, a really well paced story that skipped along and I loved Mrs Polly's character. {Spoiler} I was spoiled for the cameo by the thread so I was bracing myself for it. I really like Jacob Dudman and he does a great Matt Smith impression, but I'm not sold on the idea of BF essentially casting him as Eleven. I don't mind it in The Doctor Chronicles or Short Trips as they're narrated stories but I'm not keen on him being the Eleventh Doctor in a full-cast audio.
I don't mind Tim Treloar or Jon Culshaw being used because Jon Pertwee and Nick Courtney are unfortunately no longer with us, but while Matt Smith is still around and may potentially join BF in the future, I'm not a fan of them having Jacob take on the role of Eleven.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 23, 2020 20:41:26 GMT
I really like Jacob Dudman and he does a great Matt Smith impression, but I'm not sold on the idea of BF essentially casting him as Eleven. I don't mind it in The Doctor Chronicles or Short Trips as they're narrated stories but I'm not keen on him being the Eleventh Doctor in a full-cast audio. Yeah, I do think that was a bit of a mis-step by BF, however the cameo didn't really spoil the story, which was very engaging. (It was more of a jarring moment, rather than something that has spoilt what has gone before.) I just hope Big Finish don't make a habit of it though. We've seen [very recently] how things can change with new series Doctors and Big Finish, so keep the 'Eleventh Doctor' roles in full cast plays for when Matt Smith does eventually come on board, as he surely will do one day.
In the absence of a poll here I'll give Thin Time 4/5 and Madquake 3/5. I did like both stories, Thin Time was the more enjoyable of the two for me though, I thought Madquake lost it's way a bit towards the end.
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Post by vivdunstan on Aug 25, 2020 5:45:07 GMT
A mixed bag for me. I liked Thin Time a lot, even with the surprise ending which is somewhat divisive. But Madquake was a struggle to get through. Not keen at all. I would have liked more on the companion feelings, than the pantomime nature of the second half.
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Post by Who Review on Aug 27, 2020 17:36:27 GMT
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Post by mark687 on Sept 7, 2020 9:58:47 GMT
Subscriber PDF Script and Extended Interview DL in Accounts
Regards
mark687
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Post by Deleted on Sept 8, 2020 6:53:30 GMT
Subscriber PDF Script and Extended Interview DL in Accounts Regards mark687 Just downloaded it to... {Spoiler} ...read the Eleventh Doctor's unexpected cameo in Thin Time; still love it. Hopefully they'll bring in another New Series incarnation to a Main Range audio, in the near future. Maybe David Tennant?
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Post by Kamelion on Sept 9, 2020 3:47:37 GMT
MADQUAKE - BF267B
Madquake is the second story from last month's Monthly Series with #5, where he has left his companions Tegan, Nyssa and Marc. In fact The Doctor is not even in the first half of this. This story provides good character development for the companions, and it is an emotional one. At least it is intended to be. To me it kind of had the feel that it was trying too hard and in an odd way this felt like an older Big Finish production from years ago.
This is another story suitable for Halloween that got shuffled out of place when whatever that we will probably never know, happen and Big Finish moved all the release dates around. I'm giving the higher rating of an '8' based on the storyline of Marc and his trauma with being halfway converted into a Cyberman. That's really good stuff right there and it is something that people who enjoyed 'Spare Parts' will most certainly appreciate.
The planet that the companions are stranded on, in a drug like manner causes sedation at night. Tegan hates it, and somehow it seems completely natural that Tegan would not care to be sedated as she's a fireball at heart.
I had either read or listened to some question presented to Nick Briggs some time earlier this year, asking if the 'Classic Doctors, New Monsters' series would be returning and he stated that people were going to be pleased with something later in 2020. That would be this story. The Slitheen are back and they sound incredible in audio. Far more creepy, far more hilarious and perfectly suited for Halloween.
https://the**********.com/Story/story.php?audioid=6469
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Post by Kamelion on Sept 9, 2020 3:48:23 GMT
THIN TIME - BF267A
Does anyone else find it odd for Big Finish to release a Halloween story in the middle of August? If I am not mistaken, I believe that this story was originally scheduled for a release date closer to Halloween, perhaps something like October 2020? Big Finish really shifted their releases up a lot in 2020 and it is a shame that this was moved to a completely inappropriate month and season as it would have been a nice Halloween treat. The timing just seems absurd.
So we have yet another story based in London. October 31st, 1892. While I am not certain of the total number of Doctor Who stories based in England, I would guess that just London alone must have at least 1000. It is always nice to explore other parts of the UK and I don't quite get the reason that authors tend to lack creativity there. This story could have taken place anywhere on earth, so why not India? Or Bouvet Island maybe?
One thing I have learned is that I do appreciate the music of Robert Harvey. He also does music and sound for Dorian Gray, The War Master, Torchwood, Counter Measures. His music and sound along with the acting talent of Peter Davison and this cast of actors made for a chilling tale ripe in a creepy Sci-Fi horror hybrid. I would have never expected the plot to play out in the way that was revealed in the end.
The Doctor was by himself and feeling regrets at leaving Tegan, Nyssa and Marc behind. Mrs Polly a member of the staff at the residence of the haunted house of Charles Crookshap shares him with her views of grief at the loss of her husband at war and it most certainly provides for some emotional side steps. A very well written story.
In regards to performances, aside from the professional actors this story also has a vocal impressionist that is not an actor. That would be the young Youtube vocal impressionist Jacob Dudman. Anyone should already know by now that reading a review of a story you have not heard yet is a great way to run into spoilers and for that reason I do not make any attempt to leave spoilers out of reviews.
How hard would it have been for Matt Smith to just remotely record a 5 minute segment for Big Finish for God's sake? When Jacob Dudman started speaking to Peter Davison's #5 at the very end of this adventure, I didn't even know who it was. I thought it was John Hobshaw by Zaqi Ismail. But after several minutes I was finally able to remember that this story is a multi Doctor brief event and this is where that happens. I think it is a terrible shame to have a vocal impressionist that is not a trained actor, trying to act and sound like an actor that actually was The Doctor. And that would be Matt Smith. Is it really all that hard for Big Finish to get the real actors?
I would not say that this end segment harmed the story and would most certainly not go so far as to say it 'ruined' it or anything like that. It was cute stunt at best. The story was strong enough on it's own, in great part due to the music and sound. But it's just a real shame that a meeting between #5 and #11 was not able to be done properly with two actors. Especially considering that it was only about 5 minutes or less. Matt Smith could have done that remotely.
Fans of Big Finish Doctor Who music most certainly should not miss the music suite at the end of this story. Even the finest headphones can not do justice as the bass involved in that little masterpiece requires a high end proper stereo system with actual sub-woofers. I was blown away by the music suite.
https://the**********.com/Story/story.php?audioid=6468
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Post by karldwilliams on Sept 9, 2020 7:27:00 GMT
In regards to performances, aside from the professional actors this story also has a vocal impressionist that is not an actor. That would be the young Youtube vocal impressionist Jacob Dudman. Anyone should already know by now that reading a review of a story you have not heard yet is a great way to run into spoilers and for that reason I do not make any attempt to leave spoilers out of reviews. How hard would it have been for Matt Smith to just remotely record a 5 minute segment for Big Finish for God's sake? When Jacob Dudman started speaking to Peter Davison's #5 at the very end of this adventure, I didn't even know who it was. I thought it was John Hobshaw by Zaqi Ismail. But after several minutes I was finally able to remember that this story is a multi Doctor brief event and this is where that happens. I think it is a terrible shame to have a vocal impressionist that is not a trained actor, trying to act and sound like an actor that actually was The Doctor. And that would be Matt Smith. Is it really all that hard for Big Finish to get the real actors? I would not say that this end segment harmed the story and would most certainly not go so far as to say it 'ruined' it or anything like that. It was cute stunt at best. The story was strong enough on it's own, in great part due to the music and sound. But it's just a real shame that a meeting between #5 and #11 was not able to be done properly with two actors. Especially considering that it was only about 5 minutes or less. Matt Smith could have done that remotely. Whilst I don't want to get sucked into a recast debate, Jacob Dudman may have started out as a Youtuber impressionist but he IS an actor now, appearing in The A List, The Stranger and Medici. Matt Smith isn't obliged to play the Doctor just because it's only 5 minutes and won't take much of his time. I thought it was a lovely little scene. I think Dudman does a great job, especially his Elevemth which is uncanny.
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